74 
MR.  W,  YARRELL'S  DESCRIPTION  OF  APTERYX  AUSTRALIS. 
inner  and  outer  toes  on  each  side  are  equal,  and  measure  1  inch  and  three  eighths,  the 
claws  very  nearly  as  large  and  as  long  as  that  of  the  middle  toe. 
On  their  upper  surface  these  toes  are  covered  with  a  series  of  broad  imbricated 
scales,  arranged  in  succession  transversely  ;  the  under  surface  is  defended  by  very 
small  reticulated  scales,  and  the  lateral  linear  junction  of  these  two  coverings  is  marked 
by  a  well-defined,  but  slightly  prominent  ridge,  which  appears  to  have  been  mistaken 
for  the  remains  of  an  interdigital  connecting  membrane. 
The  claws  are  slightly  curved,  and  taper  gradually  to  a  point ;  those  of  the  middle  toes 
are  convex  above,  concave  beneath ;  those  of  the  inner  and  outer  toes  are  also  convex 
above,  but  the  worn  edges  of  the  under  sides  give  them  a  convex  form  beneath  also, 
and  they  resemble  a  spur,  curved  downwards.  The  hind  toe  is  placed  on  the  inner 
flattened  surface  of  the  tarsus ;  it  is  directed  backwards,  and  almost  perpendicularly 
downwards.  The  connecting  bones  are  articulated  so  high  up  on  the  tarsus,  that  the 
extreme  point  of  the  claw  scarcely  reaches  the  ground.  The  whole  length  of  the  hind 
toe  is  but  1  inch  and  an  eighth,  of  which  the  claw  measures  three  quarters  of  an  inch. 
In  form  it  is  nearly  straight,  round,  tapering  and  pointed,  and  has  much  more  the 
appearance  of  the  spur  of  a  Gallinaceous  bird  than  the  claw  of  a  hind  toe.  The  tarsi 
and  toes  are  yellowish  brown,  all  the  claws  of  a  shining  whitish  horn  colour. 
The  decided  rasorial  nature  of  the  legs  and  feet,  with  the  very  elongated  form  of 
beak  common  to  a  different  order  of  birds,  thus  combined  in  the  Apteryx,  present  con- 
siderations of  the  highest  interest  to  the  ornithologist  ;  and  it  is  to  be  regretted  that 
little  or  nothing  is  known  of  the  habits  of  a  bird  possessing  parts  and  peculiarities  of 
such  distinct  and  different  character.  Its  short  legs  and  divided  toes  prevent  progres- 
sion in  water,  and  equally  deny  compensation  for  the  want  of  the  power  of  flight :  it  is 
obvious  that  it  possesses  no  efficient  means  either  of  escape  or  defence.  Its  food  is  un- 
known ;  but  Col.  Sykes  having  found  beetles,  grasshoppers,  worms,  seeds,  aud  vege- 
table fibres  in  the  stomachs  of  some  of  the  Indian  species  of  Ibis,  I  am  induced  to  con- 
jecture that  the  food  of  the  Apteryx  is  probably  similar,  or  perhaps  even  still  more  ex- 
clusively insectorial. 
No  public  or  private  collection  is  understood  to  possess  another  specimen  of  this  sin- 
gular bird ;  and  it  might  reasonably  be  expected  that  so  defenceless  an  animal  must 
soon  fall,  even  to  extermination,  when  assailed  by  powerful  and  ingenious  enemies. 
The  accounts,  however,  of  several  travellers  furnish  interesting  information  on  this 
subject,  from  which  future  success  may  yet  be  confidently  anticipated. 
M.  Lesson,  in  his  account  of  the  'Voyage  de  la  Coquille,'  Zoologie,  (torn.  i.  p.  418.) 
printed  in  1828,  has  the  following  notice  : — 
"  Les  naturels  [of  the  Bay  of  Islands]  nous  parl^rent  fort  souvent  d'un  oiseau  sans 
ailes,  dont  ils  apport^rent  des  debris,  qui  nous  parurent  6tre  celles  d'un  Emiou  ; 
M.  Kendal  nous  confirma  cette  pensee  en  nous  afiirmant  I'existence  de  casoars  ana- 
